A grain legume develops its dry seeds within a pod. In India, for reference, it's called pulses. The seeds are edible and comprise one of the best sources of protein for a vegan diet. Legumes include lentils, peas, black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, and peanuts. They are also associated with high levels of fiber. They are low in saturated fat. Lentils have been consumed by various civilizations for as long as 13,000 years ago. When combining legumes with other vegetables, a full array of nutrients are delivered to the body assisting with the prevention of many chronic diseases. This article explains more about the benefits of six legumes.Various ways I prepare legumes for regular consumption:lentils - lentil soup, lentil quinoa salad, curried lentil stew, lentil chard souppeas - tossed in stews and in saladspeanuts - peanut butter once in a while (no salt, no sugar variety)black beans - black bean soup, tossed in salads, veggie burritoschickpeas - added to vegetable soups, homemade hummus, curry stewskidney beans - three bean chili